Court briefs for December 3, 2001

Monday, Dec. 3, 2001 | 9:14 a.m.

Student pleads for probation

A former Western High School teacher was placed on three years' probation Friday after the student he is accused of having sex with told the judge she had had a "truly meaningful and loving relationship" with the teacher.

James Gabriele was arrested in February and charged with sexual conduct between a school employee and a student after police in Escondido, Calif., found him having sex with the girl in a hotel parking lot.

Authorities later discovered the relationship began in Las Vegas and he was charged with crimes that allegedly took place here.

Gabriele pleaded guilty and could have faced as much as 10 years in prison.

The girl, however, wrote District Judge Michael Cherry a letter pleading with him to give Gabriele probation. She noted that she is just five months shy of 18.

Cherry noted that Gabriele has no criminal record. He placed him on probation and told him not to contact the victim until she turns 18.

Three enter plea agreements

Three more people have entered plea agreements in a $6 million slot machine scam.

James Bulgarino, Debra Capozzi and April Andrews all pleaded guilty to engaging in an illegal gambling business, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Damm said.

The three will likely receive probation, Damm said.

The scam -- which was designed by the three defendants' parents, Eugene and Joan Bulgarino and Dennis Nikrasch -- resulted in James Bulgarino winning a $200,000 jackpot and Capozzi winning a $1.7 million jackpot as Andrews acted as a look-out, Damm said.

Eugene Bulgarino, 66, is serving 46 months in prison. Joan Bulgarino, 66, has already served four months in prison and four months of home detention. Nikrasch was given 7 1//2 years in prison.

LV man, 27, pleads guilty

A 27-year-old Las Vegas man has pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal car accident police believe was drug-related.

Jose DeLeon pleaded guilty to one count of felony driving under the influence and will receive no less than 3 1/2 years in prison when sentenced by District Judge Kathy Hardcastle Jan. 28. The maximum sentence he could serve is 20 years.

Prosecutors believe DeLeon had marijuana in his system when his car collided with that of Michael Edward Beer on Oct. 9, 2000, at the intersection of Hacienda Avenue and Valley View Boulevard.

Beer, 26, died, and DeLeon, who suffered minor injuries, was arrested at University Medical Center. Police said he fled the scene.

Former clerk sentenced in sales

A former pet shop clerk was sentenced to slightly more than two years in prison Friday for selling drugs that can be used to make methamphetamine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Ko said Daniel Pragosa must begin serving 27 months in prison Jan. 4.

Federal authorities believe Pragosa helped pet shop owner Carlos Bertolo sell iodine crystals and red phosophorous to meth cooks so they could make the illegal stimulant.

Ko said U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson on Wednesday sentenced Carlos Bertolo to 188 months in prison.